Virginia’s 2022–2024 biennium budget included an appropriation of $10,000,000 in the second year for victims of mass violence. The budget language directed the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to convene a work group tasked with identifying specific options to help ensure that those impacted by mass violence are able to cover out-of-pocket health and mental health expenses that are connected to the violent event but are not covered by insurance. Prior to distributing any funds, the Virginia General Assembly must adopt a structure for administering the funding based on the findings of the work group.

DCJS first convened the work group on May 2, 2024, and held two subsequent meetings (June 6, 2024 and July 11, 2024). This legislative document reports on the work group’s discussions and conclusions.

Discussion topics of the work group included gaps in services for victims of mass violence, options for determining funding eligibility, defining “mass violence event" and “mass violence victim," fund investment and administration options, and costs to invest and administer the fund. To inform their discussions, the work group also received presentations from DCJS, Virginia Department of the Treasury, Virginia Retirement System, and Virginia Victims Fund.

Conclusions of the work group include:

• That the fund’s initial structure be flexible and allow for adjustments.

• Fund investment should be managed by a state agency generally tasked with similar responsibilities and experience in investing funds to ensure sustainable annual financial returns.

• Fund administration to victims should be handled in a manner that minimizes burdens and stress for victims and ensures the most efficient and expeditious delivery of compensation funds.

• That the role of collateral resources and the “payor of last resort" be clearly defined.

• Funding for administrative costs will be necessary to support staffing, technology needs, and outreach and public awareness efforts.

• Definitions of “mass violence event" and “victim of mass violence.